HEAT UNIT ACCUMULATION UPDATE

As of July 18, 2002:

To show the variability of degree day accumulations over the last three years, this last week was tabulated for each of the years with totals listed beneath annual accumulation totals above*. The cooler temperatures this last week have certainly shown up in these reduced DD60 accumulation values.

Cotton is doing extremely well and growing at a rapid rate – growth stage of program cotton is first bloom to boll set with square sets hovering at 82 to 92% as of July 18th. Stressed cotton is starting to throw off some of the new fruit which should not be confused with bollworm effects.

Insect problems in cotton are occurring with bollworms beginning to establish in the more lush cotton with seemingly more blooms. With increased cotton canopy, higher overall humidity levels and increased egg-lay activity measured by increased trap catches, the potential certainly exists for this insect to flourish in the lush environment provided. Populations are very random, however, sometimes exceeding treatment thresholds just across the turn-row from a field with only a sub-economic population level. Flared squares are fairly common to some degree in all fields indicating that worms were present. Even though evidence is present of a worm infestation, worms may not be, indicating beneficials were at one time active. Most fields in the program are lacking the beneficial numbers that were present in 2001.

As fast as cotton is developing, growth dilution effectively depletes beneficial numbers and potentially increases sites for pest insects to develop. Each individual field is just that, an individual and must be treated as such when assessing populations for potential chemical treatments. This is the year for consultants, IPM agents and field advisors to "earn their keep" by keeping a watchful eye on potential bollworm problems. Very few bollworm eggs are being reported from program fields which would indicate that this last "hatch" is behind us. Fleahoppers are no longer considered a pest in program fields at this time. No aphids problems have been reported in any program fields even though some can be found in almost any field in the area. Several fields still contain levels of grasshoppers but again each is an individual. Most will not require treatment at all.

Bollworm treatment choices can be obtained from Texas Cooperative Extension's Cotton Guide. There are fifteen chemicals registered which should provide several choices of treatments and/or combinations for multi-pest problems. This guide is available on-line or at your local county Extension Office.

Bollworm, budworm and beet armyworm moth catches as of July 18th have captured:

Moth trends (bollworm/budworm) are generally up over the last few weeks but corresponding egg-lay has decreased. BAW moths have declined overall which indicates possible increased secondary host plant attractiveness over cotton or trap pheromone. With rainfall increasing vegetation within playa lakes, alternate weed hosts should be much more attractive at this time.

Pumpkin and ornamental gourd production is in need of a general rainfall event to prevent stress and continued open, hot weather to promote disease-free production. Samples of diseased plants submitted to the lab last week have not returned at this time but will be reported when known. Insect problems have not been reported from program fields this week even though some squash bugs, cucumber beetles and aphids are present.

Africanized honey bees (AHB) are on the minds of some folks as I get calls weekly about bee infestations that are unknown in origin but bothersome due to close proximity within municipalities. Extension's role is education and not control, therefore we must leave that to the registered Pest Control establishments.

One such individual has agreed to take on this responsibility – Mr. Jay Jones at 794-4567 in Lubbock has agreed to take bee calls in this area. Should anyone else be interested in taking these calls, I will be glad to post that information in this newsletter. Potentially, AHB do present an on-going problem and one that we must adapt a proactive response to help neutralize.

Boll weevil trapping data (Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation) has maintained with a 0.002 increase in the Southern Plains/Caprock and an increase to 0.003 in the Northern Plains Zones. The Southern High Plains/Caprock and the Northern High Plains Zones have treated approximately 264,385 acres of cotton to date in 2002.

Two turn-row meetings have been scheduled;1) July 24th at 8:30 a.m. at Associated Cotton Growers Gin North of Crosbyton on FM 651 and 2) July 25th at 8:30 a.m. at Scott Gin in Floydada. Thanks to Randy Arnold and John Woelsel for allowing the use of their facilities for these meetings. These are short meetings scheduled to answer any questions that producers might have regarding pest problems that may be of interest in cotton or other crops. Hopefully, questions regarding bollworm problems will be addressed to everyone's satisfaction as I have had numerous phone calls the last few days inquiring about treatment details. There may be a necessity to apply insecticides a second time for bollworms later in the season and hopefully some enigmas may be alleviated. There will be no CEU's accredited from these two meetings.

Steve Davis
Extension Agent-IPM
Crosby/Floyd Counties

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